Improvement in button or stud fastenings



R. BOUSSARD. v Button or Stud Fastening.

No. 200,023. Patented Feb. 5,1878.

' 47526.95 4 fizz/Wm;

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

RICHARD BOUSSARD, on NEW YORK, N. Y, ASSIGNOR To HIMSELF, ADOLPH sonwnnz, Ann JOSEPH" SOHWARZ, or SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BUTTON OR sruo FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 200,023, dated February 5, 1878; application filed November 14, 1877; patented in France December 14, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD BOUSSARD, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleeve-Buttons, Studs, and similar fastening devices, of which the following is a specification: r r

My invention relates to improvements in sleeve-buttons, studs, or similar fastening devices, fully described hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawings, for which invention I have obtained Letters Patent in France under the number 93,596, and dated December 14, 1871.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figures 1 and2represent, in perspective andin section, respectively, my improved button. Figs. 3 and 5 and 4 and 6' represent, in perspective and in section, respectively, an improvement ormodification of the invention shown byFi gs. 1 and 2.

In the drawings similar letters of reference are employed in all the figures to indicate corresponding parts wherever such may occur.

"a is the cup or cap, to which the button proper is made fast in the usual way when the sleeve-button is made of metal and some other material. I) is the shank, square in form, the arm b of which is soldered to the cap a, as shown by Fig. 1, or riveted thereto by means of the lugs with which it is provided, as shown by Figs. 4 and 6. The arm I; of the shank may be made round, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2, or square in cross-section, as shown by Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, which latter construction is preferred, for reasons hereinafter fully set forth.

c is the catch or latch, of any desired configuration, either round, oval, hexagonal, or of other form, pivoted to the shank b by means of plate 0, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2. The

arm b of the shank being round, the catch or latch 0 will turn freely upon its axis, though in most circumstances this is not desirable, especially in buttons or studs employed on wearing apparel, as it is rather difficult to insert the catch or latch 0 into the button-hole. To avoid this difficulty and to hold the catch 0 in a vertical position, I make the arm b of the shank square in cross-section, and provide a corresponding recess for the same in the catch-plate c, the arm I) being held therein by means of a spring-plate, d, which latter will yield to the squared edges of the arm I) when power is applied to the catch 0 to turn it from a horizontal into a vertical position, or vice versa, as will be readily understood. By these means the catch 0 may be readily insertedinto the {button-hole. In order to permit of the catch being turned in a horizontal position after having been inserted into the buttonhole, I pivot it to the shank b eccentrically that is to say, upon a point some distance from its true axisso as to form a short part and a longer portion on either side of the arm W, as shown by Figs. 5 and 6,,tho dilference in length between the two halves of the catch being equal to one or more thicknesses of the material on which the button or fastening device is used.

The spring-plate d may be arranged in various ways, either by fastening it at both endsto the catch 0, as in Fig. 3, or at one end only, as in Fig. 5, which latter mode is preferable when soft metals are employed, as the springplate (1 yields more readily, and will not wear the shank b so fast as it would otherwise. WVhere the shank is of considerable length, 1 comparatively, such as in cud-buttons, and where strength is a desideratum, I form the arm 6 of the shank b of a flattened enlarged surface, slightly recessed on one side, so as to permit the catch 0 to lie therein when in a vertical position. This recess 0 is plainly shown in Figs. 3 and 6. To prevent the catch 0 from passing between the upright or vertical arms b of the shank b, I form atooth or projection, c, on the recessed fiat arm I) about its center,

as shown by Figs. 3 and 6.

In the construction shown by Figs. 2 and 4, the catch 0 is formed of the spring-plate d anda recessed metallic plate, both being perfectly flat, and therefore leaving a sharp angle all around the edge of the catch 0, which becomes exceedingly uncomfortable when the catch is in contact with the skin of the wearer, from the friction of the sharp edges upon the skin. To avoid this I make the catch proper of a slightly rounded shape and with rounded edges, as shown by Figs. 4 and 6.

It will be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to any particular outer configuration or shape of the catch 0, as this may be made of any desired form and material.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a sleeve-button, stud, or similar fastening device, a square shank, b, one arm, b, of which is connected with said button, while the arm b of said shank is squared, in combination with the hinged catch 0, provided with a square recess, and the spring-plate d, all constructed and operating substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

2. A square shank for a button or similar fastening, having 'one arm, b flattened and recessed, and provided with a tooth or projection, 0, in combination with a latch or catch pivoted upon the arm opposite to the arm 0, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of Novemher, 187 7 RICHARD BOUSSARD.

Witnesses E. DUBOIS, O. H. WOODMAN. 

